The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-05-25
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.
The Pardon OF !Smaker.
[AnderSon Intelligencer.)


The Netcs and Courier criticiscs the &C
ton of Governor Richardson in commu-
ting the sentence of an OrangeburS muir
dercr from death to Imprisonment For lie.
The jury recommended the prisoner TO
mercy, the Judge recommended the com
mutation Of the sentence to term OF years
less than the life time of the prisoner, and
the Solicitor recommended the commute
tion. Every one. therefore. officially con-
nectci with the case, who heard the trial,
Judge. Jury, Solicitor, and prominent clll-
ZenS, recommended 4 communication. We
believe il rigid enforcement OF the law IN
ali cases. but it does strike Us as q little un-
reasonable to criticiSe q Governor Tor com
muiing Il sentence under these clrcunl-
stances. To have refused, would have
been bloodthir>ty and inhUman on the
part Of the Governor Human life, even
that of q criminal, should only be taken IN
cytIeme cases, and the Governor has been
given the committing ard pardoniug power
to correct those cases in which the penal
ties prescribed by law are too rigorous for
the circumstances of the case. or IL which
error is made to appear. All the officers
representing the State expressed the opln-
ion that the punishment was too S""crc Tor
the circumstances of the case. and the Gov
ernor was right, we think, in committing
the death penalty to Imprisonment for life.
\ Backsldns Contemporary.
(Newberry observer)
The Meas 0nd Courier nominatcs Hon.
c. H. Simonton, of Charleston, Judge Of
the United States District Court Of South
Carolina, as the successor OF Associate JUS
tice Moods. deceased, and urges, among
the reasons why the President should ap-
poin. him, that Judge Simonton has been
"a Democrat from his youth up.
judge Simonton is worthy Of all the
praise our contemporary bestows upon him.
and i: worthy and competent 10 till the po
sition in the United States Supreme Court.
Indeed. South Carolina has no worthier son
than Charles H. Simonton, and his appoint
mcnt would be gratifying to the people Of
the State
All this is true, as every one knows who
knows Mr.. Simonton, either personally Or
by reputation.
Blu. !; gr;eves us beyond measure to see
our esteemed contemporary come down
from its lofty and unpartiSan pinnacle Of
civil service and advocate the appointment
OF {; man because he is "a Democrat" atall;
and it grieves us most of all that 1t even
advocates one because he is not only "a
Democrat, but has been "a Democrat from
his youth up
We fear our contemporary has fallen
from its grand elevation down into the miro
and dirt OF partisan politics among the rest
Of US poor spoilsmen.
About the Legislature.
(Newberry Herald and News.1
We think it would be good idea for the
law 10 be SO changed that the members of
the Legislature be elected for term Of
four years and have only one session every
two years. We have too much legislation:
too much making and unmaking of laws.
Too much of our legislation is hurric;!ly
done, bat to be undone at the next session
of the Legislature The Legislature should
meet only once in two years, and should
stay in session until matters needing atten
tiCn were carefully and deliberately con-
sidereG and acted upon, then there would
be very little, or at least much less, need Of
constantly amending and changing the laws
already made.
There is too much special legislation
legislation for localities or districts or
counties.
Has Politics in Il.
(Edgefeld Nonitor.)
Mr. Tillman now admits that the farm
erS' movement" has politics in it, And so
we have contcnded all the time And to
have politics we must have politicians.
And politicians are about the same the
world over-the outs are al patriots and
the ias are anything but what they ought
to be.